Huang, Szu Wei (Jane) and UNSPECIFIED
(2022)
Neurogenesis in the Olfactory System: The Functional Activity of Immature Olfactory Sensory Neurons and Postnatal-Born Granule Cells.
Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
This is the latest version of this item.
Abstract
Adult neurogenesis in the rodent olfactory system provides a continuous source of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) in the olfactory epithelium (OE) and granule cells (GCs) in the
olfactory bulb (OB). These new neurons must integrate into established circuitry without disrupting pre-existing functions. In the OE, OSNs project their axons to the glomerular layer of the OB, where they synapse with the neurons of the OB. Immature OSNs express the olfactory
receptors and proteins required for signal transduction, but it is unknown whether they form functional synapses with OB neurons and contribute to odor processing. Here, I show that
immature OSNs make monosynaptic connections with superficial tufted cells in the OB, and that these connections were formed within five days after terminal cell division. This data suggest that immature OSNs may play a previously unappreciated role in odor processing alongside their
mature counterparts.
In the OB, the somata of early postnatal-born GCs are found in the superficial granule cell layer (GCL), and their dendrites occupy the superficial external plexiform layer (EPL), whereas the somata of late postnatal-born GCs are found in the deep GCL, and their dendrites are found in
the deeper EPL. The lateral dendrites of mitral cells (MCs) and tufted cells (TCs), the primary output neurons of the OB, are also segregated in the EPL, where they form dendrodendritic synapses with GCs. In this dissertation, I tested whether birth date related anatomical differences
between subpopulations of GCs could lead to differential connectivity with MCs and TCs. By selectively photoactivating either an early or late postnatal-born population of GCs, I found that the overall population of MCs receive greater inhibition from both early and late postnatal-born GCs compared to TCs. The difference in inhibition was more pronounced following activation of
late postnatal-born GCs, which may be explained by a trend for late postnatal-born GCs to preferentially connect with MCs. Together, these data provide evidence for functional differences in connectivity resulting from anatomical differences between subpopulations of postnatal-born
GCs, which may in turn differentially modulate the parallel odor processing streams formed by MC and TC output.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
| Title | Member | Email Address | Pitt Username | ORCID |
|---|
| Thesis Advisor | Cheetham, Claire, E. | cheetham@pitt.edu | | | | Thesis Advisor | Urban, Nathaniel, N | nnurban@gmail.com | | | | Committee Chair | Meriney, Stephen, D. | | | | | Committee Member | Davis, Brian, M. | | | | | Committee Member | Seal, Rebecca, P. | | | | | Committee Member | Oswald,, Anne-Marie | | | |
|
| Date: |
30 September 2022 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
8 August 2022 |
| Approval Date: |
30 September 2022 |
| Submission Date: |
25 July 2022 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
173 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Medicine > Neurobiology |
| Degree: |
PhD - Doctor of Philosophy |
| Thesis Type: |
Doctoral Dissertation |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
adult neurogenesis, olfaction, olfactory bulb, olfactory sensory neurons, granule cells, sensory system |
| Date Deposited: |
30 Sep 2022 17:22 |
| Last Modified: |
30 Sep 2022 17:22 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/43594 |
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